Jenny Nguyen

1 Introduction Imagine waking up in a hospital bed, unable to move. You hear voices around you and want to tell the medical team that you are awake, but you cannot make a sound. You feel the breathing tube in your throat. No one seems to realize what is happening. You wonder if the procedure went terribly wrong and you will be paralyzed forever. You wonder if you are dying. Your heart rate accelerates as the panic rises up in you. You try to scream, but nothing happens.

Abstract In vitro studies using air-liquid interface (ALI) cultures enable controlled investigation of human airway epithelial cell (HAEC) responses to clinically relevant exposures. Commercial in vitro exposure systems provide precise and reproducible dosage but require significant investment. Exposure science may benefit from a more accessible customizable open-source exposure system.